Waddell School Welcomes a New Principal

Waddell School New Principal Kimberly Loveland (Posted by devra daigle, Community Contributor)

Community Contributor devra daigle

As new teachers hugged their colleagues they missed over the summer, others looked for familiar faces in the Manchester High School auditorium on August 24th for convocation. The students were set to start the 2015/2016 school year on August 27th. One thing appeared different however, a colleague in an eagle costume sitting at the front of the auditorium. When asked why wear the mascot attire, new Waddell principal Kimberly Loveland replied, " Our work as educators is serious and important, but you have to find ways to have fun." Previous to Waddell, Mrs. Loveland worked as a Mathematics Supervisor in Suffield as well as a Mathematics teacher in both Glastonbury and at the Pathways to Technology Magnet School. She received her undergraduate education at Central Connecticut State University and her Graduate work was completed at UCONN. Mrs. Loveland can be seen outside at the playground, as well as greeting kids entering and leaving the building through the new parking lot built in the rear of Waddell School. Teachers and staff alike remarked repeatedly how nice it is see a principal make community members feel so welcome. "My goal as an administrator here is to establish leadership within and amongst the teaching and working staff at Waddell, as well as with the students themselves, Kimberly stated." Waddell began a new social thinking program this year adopted across Manchester where students are taught how their social behaviors are just as important as their academic ones. "It's a shift in thinking for students to be challenged in this way and be expected to be able to demonstrate their social competence as well as academic," Mrs. Loveland remarked. Kimberly resides in Burlington with her husband and two children ages 3 and 1. With so many changes across the district this year, Waddell School families and staff are excited to have Mrs. Loveland in the community, as she brings a sense of humor, an energetic spirit and a warm heart that has everyone starting the year off just right.

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